Winging West

Well, I'm on an airplane heading into Pittsburgh. We finished the run yesterday, doing our final performance at 7 p.m. The Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon shows were really great - attended by audiences who were clearly there to have a good time. In fact, since this last week was an extension week, most of the audiences were of that sort. The final audience was a very interesting one. I think Ben Lloyd, who played "Sagot" put it best, remarking that this audience seemed to him to be one of those that had heard the show was really good, and so was sitting back and making us prove it to them. Eventually, we did, and by the end of the show, they gave us a standing ovation - the very first audience to do so. There had been standers before, but never a whole audience. I'd never have thought that this would have been an audience of standers... I thought they were hating the whole experience!

Anyway, after the show we had a cast party - this one was hosted by the lovely Maggie Siff (who, as you know, played "Suzanne," "The Countess," and the "Female Admirer") and her boyfriend David Brick. We had a wonderful time. Everyone in the cast managed to make it there except for Charlie Antalowsky, who had other plans already. We all missed him a great deal.

Here's a picture of our host, David Brick... you may remember him from an earlier entry, being mauled by Dito van Reigersberg, who was also at the party. I believe I've mentioned before that David is the co-artistic director of Headlong Dance Theater. I enjoyed David's company a great deal in the few evenings we were able to share while I was in Philadelphia. He and Maggie were really great to me, and I'm incredibly grateful to have met them, and all their friends.

Since we're getting close to landing in Pittsburgh, and they're gonna make me shut off my laptop any moment, here's a couple of quick pictures from the party...

Youssef Kerkour, insisting on sharing his huge blemish with us...


One last shot of bonnie Kate Norris. Believe me when I tell you... none of us were drinking tea out of those cups...


Greg Wood and his delightful fiancee, Susie. And of course "Elvis" had to sneak into the picture.


My favorite shot of the evening. Since it was unlikely that I was getting the whole group together, I settled for smashing these poor folk together and snapping them. From left: Brian "Bulldog" Hurlburt, our biggest fan, Susie again, Greg Wood, Youssef "Giant Elvis" Kerkour, Dito van Reibersberg, Pete "I'll Take a Raincheck on the Fight with the Drunk Guy" Koenig - propmaster extraordinaire, Jen "Her Boyfriend's a Loser and Never Told Me Her Last Name When Introducing Us," her boyfriend and our sound board operator, Mark Berman, and the talented Kathy "What the Hell is That Call Again?" Koenig, our production stage manager.

One final note as the flight attendant looks at me sternly for still running my damn laptop: A big thank you to all my new friends in Philadelphia - both those who saw the show and those who worked with me on it, and the great folks that I met while I was there. It's a wonderful experience I'm never, ever going to forget.

Thanks again!